All hands on the pump: the role of strategic thinking and gender diversity on crisis management

The study examines the effect of strategic thinking on crisis management through innovation within the hospitality industry. The study further posits gender diversity as a pivotal boundary condition that determines the influence of strategic thinking on innovation. The study employs a quantitative method and a questionnaire for data collection. The study tests the hypotheses on a sample of 261 hospitality firms. The study found a significant indirect effect of strategic thinking on crisis management through innovation, and this relationship is augmented by the high level of gender diversity in senior management. This suggests that gender diversity acts as a catalyst for unlocking the full potential of strategic thinking to drive innovation as well as navigate crises effectively and maintain resilience amidst crises. The study adds nuances to extant literature by employing theoretical pluralism to explain the antecedents of crisis management and ultimately offering rich insight into crisis management puzzles.